US Government Provides Assistance to Fire Victims in Zamboanga City

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

The U.S. Government provided assistance to families in Barangay Campo Islam, Zamboanga City who lost their homes during a fire that gutted the community on June 4. More than 1,200 individuals from 288 families were affected.

The U.S. Embassy Manila’s United Agency for International Development (USAID), through its MindanaoHealth project, conducted relief operations at the John Spirig Sr. Memorial Elementary School where at least 150 families are temporarily sheltered. Evacuees were provided with blankets, hygiene kits and bottled water to respond to the affected families’ basic needs, especially pregnant women, and also to prevent the outbreak of disease. In this photo, Mr. Daniel Miller, Director of USAID’s Office of Economic Development and Governance, leads the turnover of relief items to survivors of the fire together with Professor Abdul Karim of the Western Mindanao State University. Members of the U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force - Philippines conducted initial assessments after the fire took place to identify the most immediate needs of the affected families.

The Campo Islam Barangay Health Station reported that some patients have developed skin diseases and believes that there will be an increased number of respiratory and diarrhea cases in the next few days. The City Health Office is conducting medical consultations to address the immediate health needs and the U.S. Government, through USAID, will work closely with the local officials to monitor the health status of the affected families.